The Washington Coalition for Open Government represents individuals and organizations intent on preserving and protecting Washington's Open Government Laws - Open Records and Open Meetings. Its mission is to represent the public in matters where open government issues are raised, are threatened, or deserves broader exposure.

The Coalition conducts public workshops and forums around the state, involving the public, public officials, and the media in discussing government accessibility as provided in the various statutes that assure such access and accountability from our public agencies.

Special Announcements

The Washington Coalition for Open Government has written a letter to Governor Gregoire expressing concern with the delay in filling vacancies on the Sunshine Committee.

Read the full letter here.

Breaking News: WCOG PUBLISHES CANDIDATE SURVEY RESULTS

In July, the Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG) submitted an open government questionnaire to candidates around the state and asked for their position on 11 key government reform issues identified by WCOG. Candidates were asked to take a “yes” or “no”  stance on topics including recording of  executive sessions of public agencies and requirement of open government training for government employees and elected officials.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRESS RELEASE

Latest News
Attorney tries new tack to keep record from media
The Seattle Times: August 24, 2010

Seattle attorney Anne Bremner's battle to keep the news media from seeing a deputy's report from her June arrest on suspicion of drunken driving took a novel twist this week, baffling officials with the King County Sheriff's Office.

Bremner's attorney, Tyler Firkins, filed a motion Monday in King County District Court in Shoreline, seeking to use a rule that governs which records the court can release to bar the Sheriff's Office from releasing the report. A Superior Court judge already has ruled the report can be released under the state Public Disclosure Act, a decision that Bremner is appealing.

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Respect the state's open-records laws in DUI case of Seattle attorney
The Seattle Times: August 25, 2010

CREATIVE, aggressive lawyering intended to deny access to public records is an insult to citizens who have made open records and open government a priority in Washington.

Seattle attorney Anne Bremner, 52, is inventing arguments to stifle release of a deputy's report describing her June arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.

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Secretive nature of Legislature, candidates is a bad trend
The Olympian: August 24, 2010

As the 2010 campaign season heads into its final weeks, it's time to hold legislative candidates accountable for their views on openness and transparency in all government actions.

Most South Sound legislative candidates haven’t bothered to answer a questionnaire posed to them by the Washington Coalition for Open Government.

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Vashon's community council in crisis: Four members resign after county legal analysis
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber: August 19, 2010

Four of the nine members of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council's board resigned this week in the wake of a King County decision that the council has to comply with the state's far-reaching public records act.

Jean Bosch, who chairs the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council (VMICC), resigned Tuesday, one day after a tense exchange with Islander Tom Bangasser, who refused to sit down when she told him he was out of order.

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Request a Speaker!
Need a speaker for your next meeting or event? The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG) now offers a roster of knowledgeable speakers who can provide enlightening and entertaining programs that will answer your members’ questions on perplexing issues concerning public records and open public meetings. To learn more and request a speaker, please visit our Speakers Bureau webpage.
Sponsors
Madison Level
Davis Wright Tremaine, LLC Allied Law Group Toby Nixon
The Seattle Times William John Crittenden Patrick Brown, J.D, Ph.D.

Jefferson Level
Davis Wright Tremaine, LLC Allied Law Group

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Pioneer Newspaper Service
Stefan Sharkansky
Lucille G. Walls

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